Program Governance in Head Start
Identify the duties and rules related to a Head Start program’s Policy Council, management staff, and governing body/Tribal Council.
Leadership and governance are the bedrocks of effective management. Head Start program leadership consists of three key entities: the governing body/Tribal Council (i.e., legal and fiscal responsibilities), Policy Council/parent committees (i.e., set program direction), and management staff (i.e., day-to-day operations). These entities work together to provide leadership and strategic direction. Explore resources to help grantees navigate these tasks and relationships. Learn how to build communication and information systems that connect internal and external stakeholders. Find resources to help design and distribute reports and manage recordkeeping activities.
Identify the duties and rules related to a Head Start program’s Policy Council, management staff, and governing body/Tribal Council.
Know how to maintain the technology in your program needed to monitor continuous improvement and increase reliance on data collection and analysis.
This screener identifies ways to improve program governance and build leadership capacity. The accompanying form certifies that programs conducted the required screening.
Data in Head Start Programs is a series of interactive online learning modules that includes a mixture of practical scenarios, real-life examples from the field, and tools and templates.
The Head Start Management Systems Wheel is a visual representation of the 12 program management, planning, and oversight systems that are critical to high-quality service delivery.
Well-designed recordkeeping and reporting systems maintain the program's memory and provide critical information to program leaders, staff, families and community partners.
Technology planning is a process that takes time and resources to understand what is appropriate for staff and the organization. Program directors and their management staff can use this worksheet to assess the overall status of their organization's use of technology.
This resource provides information about the seven phases of technology planning and how to use technology to further your program mission.
The Office of Community Services has created this guide to better inform grantees, Head Start program staff, and other family service organizations about the definition, necessity, and role of best practices in the nonprofit sector. Although best practices were first used extensively in business, nonprofits continue to recognize the need to adopt best practice methodologies to effectively achieve an organization’s mission, and meet its goals.
Learn about the important leadership role of Head Start directors and managers. Explore organizational change models and systems thinking.